If we live truly, we shall see truly. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Alaska is one place I want to experience. It is associated with the dream and imagination of my youth. I often envisioned being in touch with untouched creation and my untapped resources of adaptation and creativity living in this place. The dream was in contrast with the sense of limitation that was seeming imposed on me by the culture seeking to 'better' me through appropriate behaviors and having the correct answers to questions I never asked.
Growing up in Oklahoma heat of summer, I spent most nights sleeping outdoors. Looking at the immense night sky, I became aware that truth was something so great that I could never fully understand and it was truth regardless who spoke it. It stands on it own, not to be judged; and what appears to be truth in the present moment may be only a portion of a greater truth. I concluded that I must always be open to knowing the greater truth challenging me to a lifetime of growth and learning.
Back to Alaska - I choose to travel there during the next two years. On the journey, I will be open to the dreams and imagination of my youth!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
The Real Thing!
That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. Where is the master who could have taught Shakespeare? Where is the master who could have instructed Franklin, or Washington, or Bacon, or Newton? . . . Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare. Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Where do I want to go next? Often in my life, my destination was the immediate or urgent. The choices are immense. Experience has taught me that I must choose the destination rather than following someone else. Each choice requires my most precious, non-renewable resource - time. Am I willing to exchange it for my choice? What do I need to pack? (Reflecting on past journeys I often took more that I needed.) Do I trust my Maker to provide? Can I be open to not knowing? Relying on those resources that reside within me is perhaps the greater challenge.
Where do I want to go next? Often in my life, my destination was the immediate or urgent. The choices are immense. Experience has taught me that I must choose the destination rather than following someone else. Each choice requires my most precious, non-renewable resource - time. Am I willing to exchange it for my choice? What do I need to pack? (Reflecting on past journeys I often took more that I needed.) Do I trust my Maker to provide? Can I be open to not knowing? Relying on those resources that reside within me is perhaps the greater challenge.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
One Strong Belief!
It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. - Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
When reflecting on my life, the strongest belief I have experienced is the integrity of the human spirit /soul. My greatest joy is the moment of triumph of a human being experiencing success of a hard won victory. When sustained effort against the resistance of limitation or barriers allows attainment...a handicapped youth finishing a Special Olympics event; a child taking the first step; a young man acknowledging their addiction; a senior adult re-gaining the use of stroke impaired speech. At times the gift I or another can share is to believe in the capacity of those who falter or doubt their own capacity.
When reflecting on my life, the strongest belief I have experienced is the integrity of the human spirit /soul. My greatest joy is the moment of triumph of a human being experiencing success of a hard won victory. When sustained effort against the resistance of limitation or barriers allows attainment...a handicapped youth finishing a Special Olympics event; a child taking the first step; a young man acknowledging their addiction; a senior adult re-gaining the use of stroke impaired speech. At times the gift I or another can share is to believe in the capacity of those who falter or doubt their own capacity.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Failure!
Your genuine action will explain itself, and will explain your other genuine actions. Your conformity explains nothing. The force of character is cumulative. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
My failure is in-action to express my being.
My failure is in-action to express my being.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
With Fifthteen Minutes to Live
We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other. Our age yields no great and perfect persons. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Having just fifteen minutes to live.....I will let my closest loved ones know of their gifts. During this time I would truly celebrate the beauty of the moment, experiencing the miracle of each breath, each sound, each sight, each emotion. If possible I would seek to be in the physical presence of my wife Pat, and as many of my family members that could be available. My thoughts would be very much in words of the song by Louis Armstrong, "What a Wonderful Life." I would celebrate knowing that I lived my life to my fullest, doing and accomplishing many things to make a difference in the lives of many.
Having just fifteen minutes to live.....I will let my closest loved ones know of their gifts. During this time I would truly celebrate the beauty of the moment, experiencing the miracle of each breath, each sound, each sight, each emotion. If possible I would seek to be in the physical presence of my wife Pat, and as many of my family members that could be available. My thoughts would be very much in words of the song by Louis Armstrong, "What a Wonderful Life." I would celebrate knowing that I lived my life to my fullest, doing and accomplishing many things to make a difference in the lives of many.
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